Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1887-07-16
WILD GAME In MONTANA.
ANTELOPE MAKING FRIENDS WITH
The UNNAMED BEEF CATTLE.

Their Association and Curious Friend
ship for Bunalo-A Case of Snow
Blindness-A simple Antidote Which
Effects a Total Transformation.
In crossin. the northwest plains as far
back as 1879, 1880 and 1851, it was an every
day occurrence to run upon many herds OF
buffalo, some Of them SO large that it would
require all the way from one to three days to
pass through them l remember such was
the case in the winter Of 1875 while our com
mand was chasing Sitting Bull and his myr
midons toward the British border Lining
the Red Water, and stretched out over
broad expanSe of country, was tremendous
herd of bison that must have numbered close
on to 100000 head, for it took us nearly
seventy-two hours TO pass through this mon
strous mass of living creatures. who made
little attempt to give us the right of way
On this same expedition we would frequently
encounter some large bands of antelope,
something like punches of 900 head, more
or less but we always found il difficult
matter to approach within reasonable shoot
ing distance of these gazelles of the plains,
of smell, and nimbleness of foot Once sighted
by antelope, it meant shot at 4oO yards
and beyond or not at all.
But now comes the remarkable discovery
made of the habits of the antelope, and
which believe are not put down in any OF
the books which tell US, and are supposed TO
know, all about the ways, customs, and
habits of this beautiful game animal. As re-
marked, 400 yards was near for shot If dis
covered, although 300 and 200 yards have
been gained by close creeping and crawling II
neither scented nor seen. On the other hand,
buffalo might be approached almost with
impunity up to $50 yards, but the ring OF
rifle brings on big scare, when Off bound
the big fellows at $40 gait and are soon
lost to view in the distance and dust or the
prairie. Now it happened while hunting
bison that / became aware of this fact, that
antelope associate with, browse in company
and keep sort of curious friendship with the
big unwieldy brutes. | observed scattered
all through the buffalo herds numerous nenl-
bers of the antelope family, and also that they
seemed TO be bereft OF fear when in such good
company, for very seldom did observe them
take to their heels even when rode down the
bison and scattered them right and left. On
one occasion after sending about 900 buffalo
scampering over the hills, | saw dozen or SC
antelope who hung in the rear and on the
TANKS of the herd, seemingly loath to take to
their heels and seek safety in flight. l rode
up to one buck, actually approaching to
within twenty-five yards of him, and shot the
fine fellow with my revolver.
4NTELoPE AMONG CATTLE.
Strange to say, the hills and valleys OF
Montana this year show greater number OF
antelope than at any time since the season OF
1881 The correspondent has been riding
over the south Yellowstone ranges--in about
two feet of snow, more or less--and in running
across numerous herds of cattle along the
Mizpah, Pumpkin, Powder and Tongue
rivers, was surprised and astonished to find
scattered all through the cattle any numbers
of fine, fat antelope. Cows and antelope
were grazing side by side, on the most init
mate and friendly terms, the former seem
ingly as wild AID unapproachable as the lat
ter, and all enjoying themselves as only wild
animals can. Neither myself nor the friend
riding with me--who, by the way, was owner
Of all the stock we had seen and passed
lhroughsfor miles-was able to approach closer
1han a distance of 300 yards Antelope and
steers stood us off that distance, and would
allow no closer acquaintance even from my
friend, who was master of all that beef
around him. The day was fine one, the
sun shining brightly, and rejecting from the
CLASSY, white crusted surface a glare of such
power and force that it caused my eye to
water, and also gave me much pain whenever
/ attemi ted to concentrate my gaze on any
one object. / was actually afflicted with
snow blindness, although totally unaware of
it at the time.
The truth was made apparent when my
FREUD, knowing that was fair shot with
the rifle, invited me to try my hand at bring
ing down one of the visiting antelope from
where he stood. confidently unstrung my
Winchester, and after'throwing a cartridge
into the chamber took fine aim at the fore
head of magnificent buck who was intently
watching us from the short range of 200 yards.
could see the eyes of the animal plainly, but
when | attempted TO glance along the sights
both the forehead and the rear notch became
SO badly blurred that it was simply impossible
to draw an accurate aim. i lowered the
piece and, for few minutes, the whole pan
Drama spread out before me became dane
ing mirage, so that l was unable to distin-
aga steers froIh antelope and ground from
the sky Nv vision came back 10 me in
few minutes but upon attempting the sight
ing process again the same lndlstinct blur
came over the sights and rendered an aecu-
rate aim impossible. / tried it again and
again with the same result, and then remem-
bered a pointer given me by IN old plains
hunter some years before, which was and is
thorough and positive antidote for snow
blindness.
AETlDoTE FOR SNOW BLINDNESS.
Take piece OF burnt cork, or il that is not
handy, burn a match and char a little piece
Of wood. Black the skin around and under
the ewes, and also the whole length of the
nose on each side, and also down the bridge
of the nasal organ. Armed with this little
precaution, no one need ever fear an attack
Of snow blindness. Ny friend had match,
and as for the cork-well, We had bottle
between us, and portion of the stopper was
quickly converted into charcoal. With this
literally esmuttedr my nose and eyes, and